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Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Thinking, not talking

In an age when it seems that everyone feels the need to express their opinions, these words from my current book, A Voice From Old New York by Louis Auchincloss stopped me in my tracks:

Once, when I pointed out to my older brother that I found his group in Newport on the stuffy side, he replied that their dinners were good and their guests on time and never inebriated. I retorted that he would have been happy with the formality and regularity of the court of Versailles, and he did not deny it. For a long time it seemed to me that this propriety was inconsistent with a serious life, that such an attitude must indicate a certain triviality of spirit or even of heart. I was wrong.My brother, you see, needed only himself for an intellectual companion. He was a deep reader and thinker, and a conscientious liberal in a rigidly conservative society to whose tenets he paid no attention but never took the trouble to contradict.

A 'reader and thinker' rather than a talker. Do such people still exist?

I hope we still have readers and thinkers. I think that is why many of us blog-to talk about what we've read and what we think about it; some same it more intellectually than others but we are doing it at least.

Sherri; My hope is that even if you are tweeting, texting and facebooking you are still doing it thoughtfully, yes?

It's almost like an addiction with many, especially the young. I am so grateful that I did not have to contend with texting, tweeting, and facebook when my children were growing up. The thinkers do still exist but are less obvious. I think poets are a wonderful example of people who think then communicate, often very beautifully.Carole.

I could think of plenty of people out there who could do with a lot more thinking, before they opened their mouths to speak.

They do say that, 'a little learning is a dangerous thing' and in these days of need to be in constant contact with everyone else on the planet, maybe we should all take time out during our day, to just reflect on things.

Sometimes I feel guilty for not talking because, like this author, I'm often surrounded by acquaintances whose thoughts don't agree with mine. I keep quiet because I hate confrontation and am not well-read enough to argue my position intelligently (out-loud).

I am surprised that someone as well read and intellectual as he would have been happy not to speak out. Does it do any good to think good thoughts if you don't let anyone know about them?

My dad loved Auchincloss and would have completely agreed with this passage. Although he could hold his own in a conversation, what he really loved was reading and solitude. I loved that about him and believe I have inherited his same passion. All this twittering, facebook-updating and over-sharing makes me cringe.

Also, you must get this book: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=World+Enough+and+Time&x=0&y=0 World ENOUGH and TIME. It speaks of these things: clearing spaces for other ideas, our own creativity and slowing down to see and hear the world around us. Less texting, emailing, babbling. I have a lot to learn there myself.

I believe readers and thinkers are still alive and thriving. In this age of instant communication, we seldom hear from them. It looks like it was the same in Achincloss' day. I believe society needs those people. I'd like to think some of them are quietly blogging.